Lighting device with flexible circuits having light-emitting diodes positioned thereupon and associated methods

• US 9,557,015 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Inventors: Boomgaarden, Mark Penley, Romeu, Ricardo, Holland, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROJAS CADIMA, OMAR
• Application Number:
  US13/968,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20150049478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/581, 362/35, 362/36, 362/37, 362/508, 362/509, 362/510, 362/512, 362/319, 362/320, 362/330, 362/332, 362/333, 362/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/78 with helically or spirally arranged fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/12 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/40 on the sides of polyhedrons, e.g. cubes or pyramids
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting device has a base, an optic defining an optical chamber, a driver circuit positioned in electrical communication with the base, and a flexible circuit board positioned within the optical chamber along and generally circumscribing a longitudinal axis of the optical chamber and in electrical communication with the driver circuit. The flexible circuit board may comprise a plurality of longitudinal sections. Each longitudinal section may comprise a first inclined section, a second inclined section, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The first inclined section may be positioned in the direction of the base relative to the second inclined section. The lighting device may further include a longitudinal translation device to translate longitudinally part of the flexible circuit board.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a base adapted to be coupled with a light fixture socket;

an optic having a curved inner surface defining an optical chamber;

a driver circuit positioned in electrical communication with the base; and

a flexible circuit board positioned within the optical chamber along and generally circumscribing a longitudinal axis of the optical chamber and in electrical communication with the driver circuit, the flexible circuit board comprising a plurality of longitudinal sections, each longitudinal section comprising

a first inclined section,

a second inclined section, and

a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs),

wherein the first inclined section is positioned in the direction of the base relative to the second inclined section,

wherein each of the first and second inclined sections has an LED of the plurality of LEDs positioned thereon such that light emitted by the LED is incident upon the optic;

wherein the flexible circuit board is positioned so as to define a bounded section of the optical chamber; and

wherein the driver circuit is positioned at least partially within the bounded section of the optical chamber;

a structural member; and

a longitudinal translation device;

wherein the flexible circuit board is fixedly attached at a first end to the structural member;

wherein the longitudinal translation device is operable to translate longitudinally a second end of the flexible circuit board.

2. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the LED associated with the first inclined section of each of the longitudinal sections of the flexible circuit board is configured to emit light in a direction generally towards the base;

and wherein the LED associated with the second inclined section of each of the longitudinal sections of the flexible circuit board is configured to emit light in a direction generally away from the base.

3. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the first and second inclined sections of each of the longitudinal sections of the flexible circuit board have a shared edge defining a fold.

4. The lighting device of claim 1

wherein each of the first and second inclined sections of each of the longitudinal sections of the flexible circuit board have an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible circuit board;

and

wherein the angle of inclination of each of the first and second inclined sections of each longitudinal section is altered by the longitudinal translation of the second end of the flexible circuit board.

5. The lighting device of claim 4 wherein the structural member is one of integrally formed with the optic or fixedly attached to the optic.

6. The lighting device of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal translation device is adapted to interface with an inner surface of the base.

7. The lighting device of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal translation device has a generally spiraled configuration;

wherein the longitudinal translation device is configured to interface with the structural member; and

wherein longitudinal translation device is operable to translate longitudinally the second end of the flexible circuit board by being turned.

8. The lighting device of claim 7 wherein the longitudinal translation device comprises a user interfacing structure adapted to be manipulable by a user to turn the longitudinal translation device.

9. The lighting device of claim 5 wherein at least one of the structural member and the longitudinal translation member is positioned in thermal communication with at least one of the flexible circuit board and the driver circuit.

10. The lighting device of claim 4 wherein the angles of inclination of the first and second inclined sections of each of the longitudinal sections are configured to cause light emitted by the LEDs to be emitted from the lighting device in a selected distribution.

11. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a color conversion layer positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the optic;

wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured to emit light within a source wavelength range defining a source light; and

wherein the color conversion layer may be configured to convert light incident upon it from the source wavelength range to a converted light within a converted wavelength range; and

wherein the color conversion layer may be configured to emit the converted light through the optic.

12. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises a blue pump LED, and wherein the color conversion layer may be configured to perform a Stokes shift on light incident thereupon.

13. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein the color conversion layer is positioned in thermal communication with the optic;

and wherein the optic may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the color conversion layer in converting the source light to the converted light.

14. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a heat sink placed in thermal communication with at least one of the flexible circuit board and the driver circuit.

15. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a fluid flow generator;

wherein the optical chamber is a sealed chamber containing a fluid therein; and

wherein the fluid flow generator may be configured to increase the flow of the fluid within the optical chamber.

16. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the driver circuit is included on the flexible circuit board.

17. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein a first LED of the plurality of LEDs may be configured to emit light having a wavelength range associated with a first color and a second LED of the plurality of LEDs may be configured to emit light having a wavelength range associated with a second color.

18. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein a first longitudinal section of the flexible circuit board comprises a first plurality of LEDs configured to emit light within a first wavelength range corresponding to a first color;

and wherein a second longitudinal section of the flexible circuit board comprises a second plurality of LEDs configured to emit light within a second wavelength range corresponding to a second color.

19. The lighting device of claim 18 wherein the light emitted by the first plurality of LEDs combines with the light emitted by the second plurality of LEDs to form a combined light;

and wherein the combined light is a white light.

20. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein each longitudinal section of the flexible circuit board comprises a curvature.

21. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal sections of the flexible circuit board are approximately evenly spaced apart.

22. A lighting device comprising:

a base adapted to be coupled with a light fixture socket;

an optic having a curved inner surface defining an optical chamber; and

a flexible circuit board positioned within the optical chamber along and generally circumscribing a longitudinal axis of the optical chamber and in electrical communication with the driver circuit, the flexible circuit board comprising a plurality of longitudinal sections, each longitudinal section comprising

a first inclined section,

a second inclined section, a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and

a driver circuit positioned in electrical communication with the base,

wherein the first inclined section is positioned in the direction of the base relative to the second inclined section,

wherein each of the first and second inclined sections has an LED of the plurality of LEDs positioned thereon such that light emitted by the LED is incident upon the optic, and

a structural member; and

a longitudinal translation device having a generally spiraled configuration;

wherein a first end of the flexible circuit board is fixedly attached to the structural member;

wherein the longitudinal translation device is operable to translate longitudinally a second end of the flexible circuit board;

wherein each of the first and second inclined sections of each of the longitudinal sections of the flexible circuit board have an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the flexible circuit board;

wherein the angle of inclination of each of the first and second inclined sections of each longitudinal section is altered by the longitudinal translation of the second end of the flexible circuit board;

wherein the longitudinal translation device interfaces with the structural member; and

wherein the second end of the flexible circuit board is translated longitudinally by turning the longitudinal translation device.